Sophie Kinsella

BOOK OF THE MONTH: LOVE BY THE BOOK BY MELISSA PIMENTEL

August 11, 2015 by Little Miss Honey 913 Comments

Credit: www.goodreads.com

I love a good chick lit. This book was among Cosmopolitan’s reading list so I was excited to read it. I was hoping to laugh and swoon like Sophie Kinsella novels.

SYNOPSIS:

A 28-years- old American Laura Cunningham moved to London in search for a new life and hopefully, new love. After a break-up, Lauren decided to make an experiment. She follows one Love Relationship Book monthly to find a love that is worthwhile. She used books that I am familiar with like The Rules and Find a Husband After 35 ( Using What I learned at Harvard Business School).

REVIEW:

Melissa Pimentel is a funny writer. She interjects a lot of humor into the story. The protagonist tries to be a bit like Carrie Bradshaw, a little bit like Bridget Jones and a little bit like the characters in Sophie Kinsella novels. Unfortunately, Laura wasn’t really likeable like the former romantic-comedy characters. The plot was promising. As the book progresses, you can see three contenders which you might suspect to be the one she will end up with: the sexy bad boy British ex, Adrian, Laura’s first love she left in America, Dylan or the intelligent but snobbish bookshop owner, Callum.

The story started off funny and exciting especially when Laura started to try the 1st Relationship Book. But as it drags on. (It will lead you up to the end of the year when she finished her experiment.) You started to question if Laura really wants to look for real love or just doing a fun experiment. You will realize that she lacks the goal or objectives when she started her project. I didn’t think she got any wiser as she keeps reading and following the books. As a matter of fact, I think she got even more confused. I also wished she used other Relationship Books. But the ending was just the perfect way any chick lit or romantic comedy. My guess was right on who she will end up with. Overall, it is an entertaining enough book for a Saturday night.

POINTS OF DISCUSSION:

1. Give me other Relationship Books you wished Melissa Pimentel used in novel.

2. Have you used any Relationship Books in improving you love life? And did it work?

3. Do you like who Laura ended up with in the end?

Let me know your thoughts in the comment box. And if you wants any suggestions of new books to read, do drop me a line. Thank you.

WHAT I WILL TELL MY EARLY-20-YEAR-OLD SELF IF I MET HER TODAY?

August 1, 2013 by Little Miss Honey 1,277 Comments

I picked up another chick lit that is not written by Sophie Kinsella. I borrowed the book written by another Brit writer, Alexandra Potter entitled, “Who’s That Girl“.

The story is about a self-made successful woman who just by chance (it was not clearly explained in the book why) met and befriended her 20-year-old self. I was not impressed by this book. It is not funny as Sophie Kinsella book. The story was dragging and the ~~almost~~ exciting parts started at page 200 and the protagonist met her leading man at page 250. Honestly, I skimmed through the rest of the pages and I didn’t even finished the book. Sophie Kinsella is still the “Queen of Chick Lit” for me.

But this book made me think. What you say to your 20-year-old self if you meet her today?” Hmmm…. If only I could I give her a lot of lecturing and give her this list of advices:

1. WEAR SUNSCREEN AND STAY AWAY FROM THE SUN

I don’t care about the sun before. I don’t mind walking home without an umbrella under the blazing sun. I am also too thrifty to ride a pedicab to my house. So hello sunburnt forehead! I realize how clueless I am to the danger of exposing my sunscreen-free skin to the sun and what damage it can cause to my skin. I might not be seeing the results of my carelessness now but I hope I won’t be paying up for it anytime soon.

2. DONT LET AN OPPORTUNITY PASS YOU BY

I realize I have missed out in a lot of opportunities in my early 20’s due to laziness, cowardice and pride. I should know by now that opportunities knocks only once and by saying no, i have missed out my chance. I would haughtily say “no” to good opportunities offered before because I want to spend more time hanging out with my bestfriend in college or I wouldn’t want my friends left out on my activities. How lame is that?

3. EAT HEALTHILY

In my early 20’s, I lived alone in Iloilo and away from my family who are living in Saudi Arabia. My meals consist usually of instant pancit canton, canned corned beef or take-out foods. My taste buds are now so accustomed to preservatives that I seek out these chemical-laden substances to “nourish” my body. It is hard to get it out of my system but I am so used to those “instant” everything.

4. GOOD GUYS ARE NOT ALWAYS GOOD

In my younger years, my dream guy would be a neat-looking guy in polo and slacks with glasses and winning smile. Now I learned looks can be very very deceiving. As far as I know, even the guys that look like good boys are not really good boys. Sadly, most of thes ‘good-boy-looking’ men are the players. Never judged men by how they look. I never knew that a scruffy tattooed guy would treat me way better than those polite clean-cut guys.

5. NEVER ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE TO DECIDE YOUR FUTURE FOR YOU

This is tough because at our early 20’s some of us (yes, me especially) are clueless to what we want in life and what can make us happy. But it is our future and we will be the one living in it. The choices we make and the path we choose will determine our happiness. Other people will give us that advice but they will not be living our lives. We have to commit to what we want and not be swayed to what other people thing will be good for us.

6. LETTING GO OF TOXIC PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES

Spending time with toxic people can be damaging to our esteem and wasting our precious time. You will then wake up and realize that a great amount of your years was sucked out of you, spending time with the wrong people. I am not only talking of men here. I also means wrong friends. Let go of them and choose wisely.

7. STOP CARING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK

This is a tough one. This advice can be given to any age group because a lot of people is still struggling with this, me included. But its true. Not caring about what other people think about is the best gift you can give yourself. Let them think what they want to think. You are not perfect and neither are they. It is pretty damn exhausting to be seeking approval from almost everyone. The most important thing is what you think of yourself.

8. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

We all have this inherent magical powers in us. We can be who we want to be if we set our mind to it. All we need is to believe in ourself. We are unique in our own way. We just have to truly believe in ourselves.

I dont have a time machine to turn back time and tell these to my early 20 year old self but I still have more time to work towards my future.. a better and happy future.. So do you…

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LITTLE MISS HONEY BOOK CLUB: THE UNDOMESTIC GODDESS BY SOPHIE KINSELLA

July 24, 2013 by Little Miss Honey 1,530 Comments

Okay okay, taking a breather from all the heavy drama from Jodi Picoult’s novels, I decided to grab a chick lit (Urban Dictionary: literature for the chicks or modern female). Chick lits are light easy read, usually on a subject of romance, very similar to a chick flick (Urban Dictionary: movies for the chicks or modern female). When you are down and you need a light read to cheer you up or to relax you, chic lits are the best way to go. It is like a romance comedy in paper. It has a lot of funny parts similar to a movie, you can’t help but laugh like a crazy person while reading the book.

For me, the Queen of Chick Lits are no other than Sophie Kinsella of the Confession of the Shopaholic series. Though I am not a fan of that series, I have read almost all her other books and I love her to bits. I guess there is something about British authors and funny romance novels that just works. Look at Helen Fielding of Bridget Jones’ Diary and Alexander Potter. Reading a Sophie Kinsella is like watching a cute funny rom-com (romantic comedy). She always deliver slap-knee hilarious scenes, happy endings and a feel-good feeling after reading her novels.

One of the latest books I’ve grabbed from her collection is The Undomestic Goddess:

SYNOPSIS:

Samantha Sweeting is a workaholic attorney who made a huge mistake in her job which ruined her chances for partnership. She fled out of embarrassment from the city and boarded a train. She finds herself in a big mansion and was mistaken to be the new housekeeper. Samantha Sweeting, who was never good at household chores or wasn’t even acquainted to a vacuum or doesn’t know how to cook any dish, was forced to continue her charade as the new housekeeper to avoid the embarrassment and mistake she has made in her law firm. She later on gradually started, to love her “new” job and as well, found a ” new” love in her life.

REVIEW:

Samantha Sweeting is not the typical Sophie Kinsella heroines. Most of the the heroines in Sophie Kinsella’s novels are awkward, cute and insecure. Samantha Sweeting wasn’t as lovable as the other heroines. She is kinda boring, stiff, aggressive and too obsessive-compulsive. Her rich couple-employers were more colorful characters and more entertaining than her. There were funny parts like the usual Sophie Kinsella novels but not as funny as the other novels. The love story between the Samantha and her leading man didn’t really make me swoon enough. I was surprised with the ending. It makes you wonder what will really happen after. But it was still entertaining enough for me to finish the book and still delivers that feel-good feeling in the end. May not be the nest of Sophie Kinsella’s but still worth reading.

POINTS OF DISCUSSION:

1. Would you give up your high profile job to a job that is less stressful & with flexible hours? Would you feel guilty if you quit your job you have worked so hard for eversince to a job that you think would make you more happy that you in your current job?

2. Do you think it matters what your partner’s job? Is it fair to compared your job to his?

3. If you made a huge mistake in your job, what would you instinctively do first?